Cooling hotboxes



Dec. 5, 1950 G. H. DANIS COOLING HOT BOXES Filed Jlily 9, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Dec. 5, 1950 G. H. DANIS COOLING HOT BOXES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 9, 1946 INVENTOR. BY 5 016: N. 9. /3mf Patented Dec. 5, 19 50 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to the cooling of hot boxes on railroad cars.

When a hot box develops on a car in a railroad train, the train must be stopped, the box and journal must be cooled and repacked with lubricant and waste in order to minimize or prevent extensive damage to the journal. It is customary railroad practice for two members of the train crew to walk along the side of the roadbed beside the standing train, from the caboose in the case of a freight train or from the engine in the case of a passenger train, carrying two or three buckets of water and a bucket containing fresh lubricant and waste, along with the necessary tools for cleaning and repacking the box. In the case of long freight trains, it is sometimes necessary to walk for a distance of about a mile before the hot box is reached, andthe carrying of buckets of water along the rough side of the roadbed for such a great distance is hazardous and requires much time. Furthermore, the use of water as a coolant is inefficient and unsatisfactory, especially when thrown on the box from an open bucket,

The present invention contemplates the use of water in the form of a finely divided spray or mist driven by air under pressure from the air brake line of the train. The superior efficiency and advantages of the use of a finely divided spray or mist of water for both cooling and fire quenching are well known and need not be elaborated upon.

The invention also contemplates the use-of an especially designed spray unit comprising a small water container having a spray nozzle at one end and a length of hose for connection with the train air brake line. The hose i normally coiled around the water container in such a manner that it can be used as a carrying strap, so that the train-man can carry the entire device over his shoulder, leaving both hands free to carry a lantern and to protect himself from falling on the rough road bed. The spray unit also has a pocket for carrying fresh lubricant and packing irons. A novel connection is provided on the end of the air hose to connect it with the train air brake line in such a manner that the line can be maintained in use, as i necessary if the train is standing on a grade.

The apparatus for carrying out the invention is safe and easy to carry from the caboose to the point of operation; it is efi'icient and easy to use, and it is simple and inexpensive to build.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the followin specification, which should be read with the understanding that changes within the scope of the claimshereto appended may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts herein described and illustrated, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Theconstruction and operation of the invention willno'w be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a railroad train showing the apparatus in position ready to be used.

Figs. 2-and 3-are respectively a side and top elevation of one form of connection between the airhose of the spray unit and the air brakeline of the train.

Figs. 4 and-5 are respectively a side and top elevation of another form of connection between the air hose and the spray unit and the air brake line of thetrain, which allows the air brake line to be maintained in operation.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the spray unit in its normal or carrying position.

Fig. '7 is a vertical section enlarged of a portion of the spray nozzle.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section enlarged of the accessory carrying pocket, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

In the drawings, referring for the moment to Figs. 6, '7 and 8 thereof, the spray unit of the apparatus comprises a cylindrical water container M about four inches in diameter and three feet long made of light gauge sheet metal, and having a sloping top l2 provided with a filling cap 53. The container I I holds about fourteen pounds of water, between one and a half and two gallons, which is ample for cooling a hot box when used in the form of an air driven spray.

Attached to the sloping top I'Z of the water container is a spray nozzle comprising an outer tube l4 and two inner and smaller tubes l5 and i The tube l5 has its lower end ll extended throughthe wall of the spray tube M and through the top 92 of the water container. The upper end I8 of the tube 15 is bent laterally and terminates in'the center of a discharge orifice l9 formed in the upper side of the spray tube M. The tube i5 is for the purpose of conducting water from the container l I to the spray orifice i9. The tube l6 serves as a vent for the container H, and has its upper end 2!} open within the upper end of the spray tube M and its lower end 2| open within the container It. An air hose 22 is attached to the lower end of the spray tube M- by a coupling 23. Air under pressure from the brake line of the train passes through the hose 22 and the spray tube I4 and emerge from the spray orifice l9, creating suction in the tube l5. As long as the apparatus is standing vertical, in the position shown, no water is drawn from the container] i because the Water level therein is below the intake ll of the tube 15. In order to enable a water spray to issue from the spray orifice, it is only necessary to tilt the container or turn it to horizontalposition so that water covers the intake endof the tube I5.

Attached to the side of the water container l-l is a sheet metal accessory container 24 having the cross section shown in Fig. 8, providing an open pocket 25 adapted to carry two or more sticks 26 of lubricant, and open ended side pockets 21 adapted to carry packing irons 28. The sticks of lubricant 26 are retained in the open front pocket 25 by suitable straps or clips, one of which is shown at 29. It can thus be seen at a glance whether or not the apparatus is equipped with its full complement of accessories.

The air hose 22 is coiled about the body of the apparatus in the manner shown in Fig. 6, preferably in two loops, removably held to the sides of the container i i by suitably formed clips indicated at 30. In this position, the hose serves as a carrying strap or harness to fit over the shoulder of the train man, so that the apparatus is easily carried without requiring the use of the hands.

The air hose 22 is long enough to reach from the end of a car to the farthest box of the truck at that end of the car, as shown in Fig. 1. A connection or coupling member 3| is provided at the end of the hose 22 for connection with the standard air hose coupling 32 of the train air line. The connection 3|, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a fiat portion provided on one side with an annular fiange 33 and suitable packing, not shown, and formed with lugs 39, adapting it for air tight connection with the standard air hose coupling 32. A pipe 35 extends through and from the fiat portion, and is connected with the end of the air hose 22 by a coupling 36. A handle 37 extends outwardly and is provided with an aperture through Which the hose 22 is passed to prevent kinking. In using this form of connection, it is necessary to uncouple the standard air brake hoses 38 and to couple the spray hose connection 3! to one of them.

Another and preferred form of coupling or connecting member, shown at 39 in Figs. 4 and 5, permits air for operation of the spray apparatus to be drawn from the train line while the latter remains in operation. This form of connection 39 is a double one, having annular flanges and packing on two opposite sides and provided with two sets of lugs adapting it for connection with both of the standard air hose coupling members 32. A pipe 4| is led out from the side of the coupling member 39, and is connected with the air hose 22 by a coupling 42. In using this form of connection, the standard air line hoses are first upcoupled and then coupled together again with the connection 39 between them, as shown in Fig. 5. The air brake system of the entire train can be used while the relatively small amount of air for operating the spray apparatus is being drawn 011.

One or more of the spray units, filled with water and equipped with lubricant and tools, and with air hose coiled as shown in Fig. 6, are carried at convenient places on the train. When a hot box is detected and the train stopped, a train man carries the spray unit on his shoulder to the site of trouble, which for example may be in the box 43 of the car 04 of Fig. 1. He stands the spray unit on the ground in an upright position, uncouples the nearest air brake hoses 38, and couples the connection 3| to the air brake hose leading from the engine. If the spray unit is equipped with the form of connection shown in Figs. 4 and 5, he couples the two air brake hoses together again with the connection 39 between them. It should be noted that the connection Si or 39, as the case may be, remains coupled to the spray unit hose 22 at all times, and is always ready for instant use.

When the hose 22 has been coupled to the air brake line, air issues continuously from the spray orifice 19, but because of the small size of said orifice, normal operation of the train air brake system is not interfered with. The train man then opens the cover of the overheated box; tilts the spray unit until a water spray issues from the orifice l9, and directs said spray against the hot interior parts of the box. Any burning lubricant is at once quenched, and the journal and brass are rapidly cooled to normal temperature. The air issuing from the spray orifice along with the water mist assists materially in the cooling.

When the box has been cooled, the train man repacks it, using the tools and lubricant carried in the spray unit. He finally uncouples the spray unit air hose from the air brake hoses, recouples the latter together, and the train is ready to proceed.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the apparatus saves time and eiTort, and is safer and easier to use than the customary bucket procedure. One man can carry it without hazard along a rough road bed. Because of the length and shape of the spray unit, he can stand at a safe distance from the overheated box and is not endangered by steam or flame. The apparatus is simple to manufacture and use; there are no valves and no moving parts; control of the spray is efiected by tilting the unit, which is light and convenient to handle, and sufliciently rugged to withstand rough treatment.

I claim:

In a train of railway cars provided with a compressed air line running therethrough and having flexible connections with interfitting coupling members between adiacent cars, a portable water container having a spray nozzle, and an air hose for conducting air under pressure from said train air line to said water container to discharge the water through said nozzle; the combination therewith of a connecting member at the end of said hose remote from said container, said connecting member having two opposite faces formed to couple respectively with the coupling members of the train air line, said connecting member having an air passage through it from face to face and forming when coupled to said coupling members an operative part of said train air line, and said connecting member having a branch passage leading from the first mentioned air passage out through one edge, said hose being connected with said branch passage to draw air therethrough for operation of said spray nozzle.

GEORGE H. DANIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 253,080 Walker Aug. 22, 1882 894,677 Matlock July 28, 1908 1,179,095 Hall Apr. 11, 1916 1,690,050 Blair Oct. 30, 1928 1,869,869 Smith Aug. 2, 1932 1,875,992 Clifford Sept. 6, 1932 2,029,141 Warner Jan. 28, 1936 

